Well apparatus



'Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,582

F. HARDER WELL APPARATUS Filed March 9. 1 20 FI f TI '2:

fizvenzor, Prank fi'ardpr Patented Jan. 17, '1928.

UNITED'STATES PATENT ol-"Flea.

FRANK HARDER, OF HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIQNO B TO DUNN MANU-FACTURING COMPANY, OF OXNARD, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

WELL APPARATUS.

Application filed March 9, 1920. Serial No. 364382.

This invention relates to various tools and well elevators such as areemployed in hoisting and handling or screwing or unscrewing well casingand tubing, pipe, sucker rods,

etc., and it has for its object to provide an improved device of thischaracter which will be relatively simple and inexpensive inconstruction, taken in conjunction with features of superioritypertaining to positiveness and reliability in action, automaticperformance in engaging or embracing the work, facility in performancein release of the work, durability and general serviceability. 4

In well elevators as generally used at the present time it is customaryto provide a main body member upon which the principal weight of thecasing'or tubing or the like is imposed through the agenc of the collaror coupling which is emp oyed to unite sections of the tubular elements.In conjunction with this main or body member a gate or door is employedwhich is closed around the tubular element and latched or fastened inconjunction with the main body; the main body and the door'or gate beingformed to fit around the tubing 01'' other tu-- bular element andproviding between themselves a substantially circular opening or borefor that purpose. In elevators of this type it is necessary to manuallyor voluntarily latch and unlatch the gate or door, and this is sometimesattended with difficulty due to pressure of the pipe or tubular elementagainst the gate or the imposition of part of the weight thereof upon,the gate. Also frequently it. is difficult and unhand to latch the gatedue to theiposition'o the tubular element to which the'elevator. is ap-4 plied. Also in certain. classes of service such as handling tubingused in rotary well boring strings, the elevators are frequently appliedto the work while in motion, and this renders it difiicult to latch thegate or door so as to confine the tubular element and prevent itsdisplacement from the elevator.

It is one of the important objects of this invention to provide anelevator of the general character stated, in the operationof which thetubular element is automatically confined and locked in position so asto prevent its displacement from the elevator. Means likewise. areprovided whereby the tubular element may readily bereleased from suchconfined or locked condition, and the closure means withdrawn therefrom.

In practicing the invention I further provide a combination of elevatorand suspension means whereby the elevator may be freely turned in thesuspension means, which latter consist of the conventional links orother suitable devices; and this enables the elevator to be given aquarter turn from its normal upright-position so that it may bepresented to the pipe or other tubular element while the same 'is insubstantially horizontal position. In accordance with the presentinvention pi e and the like lying substantially horizontaliy and merelyblocked up slightly at one end may be picked up by the elevator whengiven a quarter turn from its normal dropped down over' the pipe. Theclosure means or means for confining the tubing in the elevatorautomaticall closes after being engaged with the wor Thereupon theelevator may be hoisted away and it will swing in the suspension meansand be restored to normal upright position With the above and otherobjects in view, the invention consists in the novel and usefulprovision, formation, combination, construction, interrelation andrelative arrangement of arts, members and features, all as hereina tel;described, shown in the drawing, and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a well elevator constructed andorganized to embody the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the-same;

Figure 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view of the same, taken uponthe line w-w, Figure 1, and looking downwardly, the means for confiningthe tubular element in theelevator being shown in unlocked and receivingcondition;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 taken upon the line v -00, Figure2, an looking downwardly, the means for confining the tubular elementbeing shown in op erative position and condition, namely, in

position and condition assumed and existing when the tubular element isconfined within the elevator;

Figure 6 is a detail vertical sectional view,

taken upon the line mw, Figure 3, and

position and looking in the direction of the appended arrows; and, K

Figure 7 is a detail vertical sectional View, taken upon the line M-m,Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows.Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the samereference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, A designates the main bodyor load-carrying member of an elevator organized to embody theinvention, the same being generally arcuate in form and having anarcuate vertical inner surface or wall 7 of substantially 180 degrees inextent. Such body A is provided with a flat top surface 8.. Ad- 'acentto its opposite terminal portion the ody A is provided with oppositelyprojecting trunnions 9 with which cooperate suspension means B which mayconsist of separate links 10 of conventional form, the upper ends ofwhich are curved toward each other and adapted to be engaged by a hook(not shown) and which is suspended from the cable utilized for wells inthe derrick for handling the casin and other devices and elements usedin rilling'and well operations. These trunnions have downwardlyprojecting outer end portions 9 and detachable cotter pins or the like11 are passed through these ends 9 and received in recesses in the bodyA, thus preventing displacement of the links 10. It will be understoodthat any other suitable suspension means may be employed in so far-1* asthe remaining features of the invention are con cerned. C designatesclosure means or means for confining the casing, tubing or otherstructure or element within the elevator; and the same comprise one ormore jaws 12 which are mounted and arranged to be swung into position toreceive the pipe or tubing or other work presented to same and to swingin step with such work as the work is passed into the bore or chamberdescribed as existing within the member, A, such chamber being confinedby a curved wall 7. Further, the jaws 12 are so arranged that when theyhave swung as stated in step with the work which is introduced withinthe member A, they provide a barrier against escaping or withdrawal ofthe work, which barrier is rendered effective by locking means 0preferably ahead of the work. Thus, when the work has been received inposition to be partly surrounded by the member A and partly surroundedby the jaw or jaws 12, and so that the weight of the work is supportedin the main upon the top of the member A, the work cannot be withdrawnor released from the elevator until the locking means a have beenoperatand condition is eflected automatically. To unlock the closuremeans G, I provide releasing means I) which may be conveniently Asindicated in the drawing, a single jaw 12 will suffice to confine thework (which work is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1), but a pluralityof such jaws are preferably employed, each being mounted at an oppositeside of the member A by a hinge pin or pintle 13. Each of these jaws isarcuate in form and has a curvature conforming generally to that of thewall 7 of the member A. These jaws 12 are normally maintained in opencondition and positions by coil springs 14 suitably applied around thepin tles 13, and each bearing at one end upon one of the jaws 12 and atthe other' end upon the corresponding end of the body member A. The jaws12 are hinged apprentmately midway between their ends, so that the outerends when opened up project materially beyond or forward of the memberA. When closed these outer ends come together, and the inner preferablyreduced ends ride into a chamber or recess 15 of arcuate form which isproduced in the inner wall 7 of the body member A. Any weight of thework imposed upon the jaws 12 is thus transferred to the body member A.

The inner ends of the jaws 12 are provided with looking fingers l6 adated to play within the recess 15 and likewise respectively within upperand lower cored-out chambers 17 formed in the somewhat enlarged centralportion of the member A, and rearward of which chambers 17 is provided alocking plate 18 held in position by a bolt or rod 19 projecting into achamber 20 formed in the body member A wherein such bolt is surroundedby a coil compression spring 21 bearing upon the head 19 of the bolt orrod 19 at one end and against the rearward wall of the chamber 20 at theother end. This combination of features results in maintaining thelocking plate 18 normally in forward position across the chambers 17.Openings 22 are provided at opposite sides of the locking plate 18, oneof the same being shown in Figure 4, the same being in differenthorizontal planes, and said openings 22- are adapted respectively toreceive the end portions of the locking fingers 16 which ride into suchopen ings, traversing the plate 18, when the work is prevented to thejaws 12 and the inner end portions of the jaws with the work move intothe cavity in the member A. When the jaws assume their final closedrelation, the locking fingers will have entered the openings 22 in thelocking plate 18, and the work will now be in its final position inwhich it is supported by the elevator, and is confined and preventedfrom release or displacement by the jaws 12 and the locking means 0described. The work is now positioned in the bore D, the walls of whichcomprise the vertical wall 7 of the main member A and the inner faces ofthe jaws 12. These surfaces and faces are preferably somewhat inclinedvertically to produce a resultant bore D which tapers somewhat upwardly.This enables the pipe or tubing or other tubular element to becompletely and firmly supported or suspended by the collar or couplingeven if the collar or coupling is not exactly true in its position onthe tubular element. In other words, if the plane of the lower edge ofthe collar is slightly out of rectangular relation to the axis of thetubing the tubing is permitted to swingsslightly in the accommodationafforded by the taper of the bore D.

The releasing means I) comprise a rock shaft 23 mounted to turn in thebody member A at the rear thereof and midway between the chambers 17,within which chambers is provided a 'lip or cam 24 adapted to bearagainst the locking plate 18 when the rock shaft 23 is swung b a handle25 which ranges transversely of the elevator body A exteriorly thereofand at the rear thereof.

Above the handle 25 is provided a safety.

handle 26 which is fast upon the body mem ber A and in its,position-overlying the handle 25 protects the same against theengagement of any object which might otherwise fall on the handle andtrip it or cause the releasing means 6 to be operated to release thejaws 12 inadvertently or accidentally. At the front of the member A areprovided vertical hand grips or handles 27 which may be convenientlyemployed in manipulating the elevator or lifting it from point to point,and also in guiding and directing the elevator to present it to the workwhile the pipe or work is in upright position. When it is desired todisengage the work from the elevator as in laying the work down upon thefloor of the derrick, the elevator turns upon its trunnions 9, and whenthe work has been brought to position to be released the handle 25 ismanually moved and the releasing means I) tripped to swing out the plate18 and free the locking fingers 16 from the openings 22. The elevatorthen may be hoisted away from the work and its 'aws 12 will open,permitting the work to e released from the elevator and escape the jaws12. The springs 14 will now hold the jaws open in position to be againutilized when engaged with work in thenext job in order. The jaws 12 areso fitted in V recesses in the body A at 28, where they are mounted uponthe pintles 13, that they can freely turn within the limits described,but

' any further outward swing is prevented by shoulders 29 outward of saidrecesses 28.

Stop fingers 30 are provided for the looking plate 18, rangingrearwardly and angularly toward each other, from the rearward portion ofthe body A.

It will be seen from a consideration of the elements and features andstructural parts of the invention and its embodiment above discussed andshown in the drawing, that I provide an elevator entirely automatic inoperation in so far as engaging and confining and holding the work isconcerned, and whereby the elevator need merely be presented to the workin proper relation, whereupon the closure means will receive the work,in an action accommodating final movement of the work into the elevatorstructure, which closure means will ultimately become locked so as tohold the work in the elevator positively and effectively until thereleasing means I) are manipulated to free such closure means and permitthe closure means to again accommodate movement of the work out of theelevator. elevator the same may readily be moved or drawn away from thework by the handle member 25, after such handle member has been utilizedto release the jaws 12 through the releasing means 6. Thus thedisengagement of the elevator from the work may be conveniently andexpeditiously accomplished without removing the hand from the unlockingmeans. The handle 25 ma be given a quick depression and then a pu l in adirection away from the work, and the elevator will quickly open up andleave the work.

It is obvious that many variations and adapted to hold the work to themain body and within a recess therein; said closure means being movably"mounted in position to be actuated upon presentation of the body to thework; locking means for the closure means, said locking means beingautomatically operated when the work has been brought into the recess inthe body, and means for releasing the closure means from lockedcondition; said closure means comprising a member hinged adjacent tosaid recess in said body, a locking finger upon said hinged member, anda locking device mounted in connection with said body and over whichsaid locking finger rides when In the manipulation of this all thehinged member is moved in conjunction with the work entering saidrecess; said releasing means comprising a cam device mounted inconnection with said body and provided with a handle projectingrearwardly of said body and which handle may likewise be employed tomanipulate the device in withdrawing the same from the work.

2. A. device of the character disclosed, comprising a main body andclosure means adapted tohold the work to the main body and within arecess therein; said closure means being movably mounted in position tobe actuated upon presentation of the body to the work; separate lockingmeans for the closure means ahead of the work, said locking means beingautomatically operated when the work has been brought into the recess inthe body, and means for releasing the closure means from lockedcondition; said body being provided with oppositely projecting trunnionswith which suspension means may be combined to permit the device to beswung upon such trunnions.

3. In a device of the character disclosed, a body provided with a recessadapted to re ceive the work, closure means for maintaining the Workwithin the recess, locking means for the closure means ahead of theWork, and

releasing means for the locking means including a handle projecting fromthe body; the body likewise being provided with a safety handleoverlying sa1d releasing means handle.

4. In a device of the character disclosed, a body provided with a recessadapted to receive the work, closure means for maintaining the workwithin the recess, locking means for the closure means ahead of thework, and releasing means for the locking means including a handleprojecting from the body; the body likewise being provided with a safetyhandle overlying said releasing means handle; the body being likewiseprovided. with another handle for manipulating the device in presentingthe same to the work.

5. In a device of the character disclosed, opposed hinged members eachhaving an end portion which engages the work at one side of the hingeand a further end portion with which cooperates locking means, togetherwith said locking means; said end portions with which said locking meanscooperate be- FRANK HARDER.

